Review of Mortdecai (2015) by Manny C — 16 Mar 2015
Even an hour and 47 minutes is far too long to be in the company of the latest clunker starring Johnny Depp. Adapted from an obscure 1973 comic novel by Kyril Bonfiglioli called Don't Point That Thing At Me, Depp is Charlie Mortdecai, an amoral art-dealing fop of a man with a posh wife, Johanna (Gwyneth Paltrow), a loyal manservant, Jock Strapp (Paul Bettany, who deserves so much better) and a gigantic debt in back taxes.
His financial troubles inspire him to take a job tracking down a missing Goya painting that may be in the hands of international terrorists. His search leads to painfully unfunny scenes involving Russian thugs, Nazi war crimes and a sleazy L.
A. billionaire and his nympho daughter (Jeff Goldblum and Olivia Munn, who really deserve better). There's also Ewan MacGregor as a a government agent who is also an old rival for Johanna's affections.
Got it? Who cares. As lovely as the scenery looks, the whole movie is just a strained excuse for Depp's preening, Buster Keaton-wannabe-schtick that got old halfway through the second Pirates of The Caribbean film.
All of it amounts to a lame David Niven impersonation. Mortdecai is bad, an early contender for worst of 2015.
This review of Mortdecai (2015) was written by Manny C on 16 Mar 2015.
Mortdecai has generally received negative reviews.
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